Long Arduous Search Something Heaven is a real place It's the - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Long Arduous Search Something

Heaven is a real place It's the center point for God's existence It's a place free of sin It's a place free of death Kingdom of Heaven as Jesus described it that's not what we see

Mentioned 5 times during the sermon on the mount John preached of it, Jesus preached it It's not about lip service and not everybody gets in (Matthew 7:21)

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:24

Matthew 18:145

• 1. Parable of the Ten Virgins
• 2. Parable of the Workers

in the Vineyard

• 3. Parable of the Yeast
• 4. Parable of the Mustard Seed
• 5. Parable of the Hidden Treasure
• 6. Parable of the Pearl
• 7. Parable of the Net
• 8. Parable of the Weeds

Its not a fable (A story with a morale) Its not an analogy We are not supposed to make some literal evaluation of every item in the parable A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from

• f old— things we have heard and known,

things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. Psalm 78:144

“Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell it to the Israelites as a parable” Ezekiel 17:2

“I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them.” Hosea 12:10

His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ Luke 8:9410

This was a fulfillment of prophesy (Matthew 13:35)

It was not Jesus' intent to confuse At some point to the crowd Jesus switched to teaching in parable form

• nly for the public

Others understood the meaning (Luke 20:19)

Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” Matthew 13:36

He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. Mark 4:34